Travel Blog
From the start of the trip we weren’t sure how we’d spend our last couple days. We knew we’d need to make it far enough south to be within 4 hours of home (we don’t like to drive more than 4 hours with the trailer) and assumed we’d end up in the Bay City area. As we looked for campground options and must see/do places nothing jumped out at us. Then we looked inland a bit and found a Yogi Bear’s Jellystone campground (Daniel’s favorite) within walking distance of Frankenmuth… perfect!...
We spent lots of time on the Canadian side of Lake Huron… so what’s the US side like? Is the water clear, beautiful shades of blue, and cold? We got a little glimpse while in Mackinaw City and were anxious to explore the coast further. We found the same beautiful water, lots of open and natural spaces, and small towns with casual vibes...
Mackinaw or Mackinac? It depends on what you’re talking about! The Mackinaw bridge connects the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the rest of Michigan. Mackinaw City is at the south end of the Mackinaw Bridge on the coast of Lake Huron. And Mackinac Island is the legendary island off the coast of Mackinaw City known for its no motorized vehicle rules, quaint but luxurious hotels and bed and breakfasts, natural beauty, great restaurants, and fudge. We spent 2 days exploring the Macks and had a great time… the area has a lot to offer!
Charlevoix and Petoskey… beauty, fun, food, water. It’s hard to believe the number of amazing towns on the eastern coast of Lake Michigan… here are 2 more! We spent 2 days exploring these towns and had a great time… if you’re looking for natural beauty and outdoor activities, wineries, great restaurants, or a beach for some fun, this area is great!
Traverse City… a town well-known for its beauty, great restaurants, shopping, cherries, galleries, and all seasons fun. The north western part of Michigan below the upper peninsula including Suttons Bay, Leland, and Sleeping Bear Dunes, is often referred to as the Traverse City area. Todd and I had been to the Traverse City area several years ago and were excited to return. The Traverse City area is great for both couples and families of all ages… there really is something for everyone… it’s the type of place we visit and know we’ll return!
Have you heard about the dunes? There are multiple places in Michigan to experience huge and amazing sand dunes, and Silver Lake is one of the places. Todd and I have been to the sand dunes around Traverse City and we wondered how the Silver Lake sand dunes would compare. We heard that we could also drive a Jeeps on these sand dunes… sounds crazy but true! So how was Silver Lake? Super cool with a great vibe and the dunes are awesome!
Gut feeling… intuition… that little voice… How often do you have it or feel it? Do you listen? From the beginning of our trip we had a feeling about the leg of our trip between Manitoulin Island, Ontario and South Haven, Michigan. 8 nights of the trip that just didn’t seem right… but we weren’t sure why, or more importantly what would feel right. We had great places on the itinerary… so what could be wrong?...
The “UP”… it’s legendary for its beauty and tranquility. It’s referred to as remote, uninhabited, and untouched. Some call it “God’s Country”. Neither Todd or I had been to the UP. Though Lake Superior wasn’t originally on our trip itinerary, we couldn’t resist the pull to experience the southern Lake Superior shore before heading to Lake Michigan.
The “locks”… we’ve heard a lot about them… What are they? How do they work? We were keen to see the locks that allow boats to safely pass between Lake Huron and Lake Superior in action and learn about how they operate. We were also excited to visit Sault Sainte Marie and experience the town where Lake Huron and Lake Superior meet!
